SA Facebook troll sued for more than R1-million

Defaming your neighbour on Facebook can be a painful‚ and costly‚ affair.

Centurion businessman Paul Hechter is suing a neighbour for R1.3 million in damages at the High Court in Pretoria for dragging his name through the mud online after he complained about her chickens and keeping 50 to 60 rabbits in a “dirty and smelly cage” next to his wall.

IOL reported that Michelle Benade‚ a neighbour‚ posted his photograph on Facebook and called him her “perverse neighbour”.

He was inundated with hate mail‚ labelling him a “sick bliksem”‚ a pervert and paedophile and threatened by one person who suggested that a biker gang would sort him out.

Fearing for his safety‚ he moved house but to his “utter shock and amazement” Benade and her family also moved – right next door to him again.

He obtained an order against her in February‚ forcing her to apologise and retract the statements made on Facebook.

Now he is claiming R1.3-million in damages‚ saying his reputation was tarnished.

Benade has not raised a defence and the case has been postponed by Judge Mmonoa Teffo.